Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 9 (Workbook Answers)
Act 2 - Scene 9
Extract 1.
Q 1. What proper honour is given to Arragon to indicate that he is a prince?
Ans. To honour Arragon as a prince, trumpets were sounded as he entered the room and Portia addressed him as 'noble prince.'
Q 2. Enumerate the conditions in the oath which Arragon was supposed to take.
Ans. Arragon is bound by oath to observe three conditions. First he must never reveal to any person which of the caskets has chosen.
Second, if he does not win Portia, he should not woo any other lady.
Third, if he chooses wrongly, he must depart at once without any further words.
Q 3. Which conditions in the oath Arragon keeps at the end of the scene?
Ans. Arragon kept the last condition, i.e. to leave at once without further saying anything, at the end of the scene.
Q 4. How wise is it to arrange marriages through a lottery system where chance plays a significant role? How does Nerissa justify the system in Portia's case?
Ans. It is not wise to arrange marriages through a lottery system where chance plays a significant role. Nerissa justifies the lottery of caskets saying that Portia's father was a virtuous man, who had her welfare at heart. So, according to her father's will, she will be chosen by someone who will truly love her.
Q 5. It is said that Arragon is too proud and self-opinionated. do you agree with this statement? Give two reasons to justify your answers.
Ans. Prince Arragon is too proud and self-opinionated. While making his selection, he calls the common people as 'fool multitude' and again as 'barbarous multitude'. He says that he will not act according to what the common men choose and put himself on the level of the ignorant and the foolish. Secondly, Arragon thinks himself to be most deserving because of his nobility.
Extract 2.
Q 1. What does the inscription on the gold casket say? Which casket does the speaker choose?
Ans. The inscription on the gold casket says 'who chooses me shall gain what many men desire.' The speaker chooses the silver casket.
Q 2. How does Arragon interpret the meaning of 'many men' given of the gold casket?
Ans. Arragon says that the words 'many men' probably refer to the foolish majority, who are foolish and who have so little wisdom that they judge only by appearances and outward glitter. Their untaught eyes never see the meaning of things, but is content to remain on the outside like the martlet.
Q 3. How does Arragon compare the martlet to the foolish multitude?
Ans. Arragon compares the multitude to the martlet. The martlet, instead of its nest inside a building, constructs it in the the outer wall. There it is unprotected from stormy weather accidents which may occur. Similarly, the foolish common people who judge by the outer appearance of things, fall into calamities.
Q 4. Give the meaning of:
(a) in the force and road of casualty: prone to disaster and in the path of danger
(b) rank me with the barbarous multitudes: I don't put myself at the level of the foolish multitude
Q 5. How is the theme of appearance and reality brought out in the choice of caskets? Why did Portia's father devise such a choice of caskets for Portia?
Ans. The theme of appearance and reality is brought out in the choice of caskets. The ability to distinguish between reality and appearance depends not on intelligence but insight and deeper human values. Arragon's choice of the silver casket is influenced by its appearance and not his feelings for Portia.
Portia's father devised such a choice of caskets for Portia because he wanted her to be chosen by someone who truly loves her.
Extract 3.
Q 1. What does the inscription on the silver casket say?
Ans. The inscription on the silver casket says, 'who chooses me shall get as much he deserves.'
Q 2. Why did the words of the inscription on the silver casket appeal to Arragon?
Ans. Words on the inscription on the silver casket appeal to Arragon, because the word 'deserve' appeals to him. 'Deserve' means 'merit'. He thinks of himself to be the most deserving. He feels that there are many who succeed without having any merit, but he deserves Portia because of his nobility.
Q 3. Give the meaning of:
Without the stamp of merit?
Ans. To try to cheat fortune and win something without merit. It means no one ought to be allowed to deceive and trick fortune by asking her for what he does not deserve.
Q 4. How does Arragon explain further the importance of deserving before getting an honoured position?
Ans. Arragon tells that no man should aspire to be honoured unless he deserves it. Arragon wishes that all the positions of rank, dignity and offices were bestowed on the deserving, instead of being obtained dishonestly. If this happens, many low ranking people would be separated out from the ranks of the truly honourable.
Q 5. Which casket did Arragon finally choose? What did he feel after making the choice?
Ans. Arragon finally chooses the silver casket. After making the choice, Arragon is shocked and very disappointed with what he finds in the casket. He pauses silently for a long time after finding the fool's head in the casket.. He says that there is such a difference between that creature and the Portia. He asks Portia if he deserved nothing better than a fool's head.
Extract 4.
Q 1. After which incident does Arragon speak these words? In what mood is he? With which fool's head did he come to woo?
Ans. Arragon speaks these words after opening the silver casket. He is in a mood of disappointment. He came to woo Portia with one foolish head of his own.
Q 2. Which second head did he get? Briefly state what was written on the Schedule attached to second head.
Ans. The second head he got was from the silver casket. It was the head of a fool. In the schedule attached to the head, it was written that silver metal of which the casket was made, was tested seven times by fire. In the same way the judgement given in the scroll is tested seven times. Some people find their happiness in shadow and illusions. Therefore, their happiness is also shadowy and unreal. There are many people who have white hair due to their old age, but don't have the wisdom of old people. Arragon will always have a fool's head. He should leave now as his chance is over.
Q 3. Which casket does the speaker choose? Why did he choose that casket?
Ans. Arragon finally chooses the silver casket. The motto of the silver casket appeals to the speaker. It says 'who chooses me shall get as much as he deserves'. He feels that he deserves Portia because of his inherited nobility.
Q 4. After the departure of the prince, what did Portia say about him?
Ans. After the departure of the prince, Portia compares him to a moth and says that he is another moth which has burnt itself in the flame. The suitors, when they choose, spend a lot of time in thinking, but still they choose the wrong casket.
Q 5. State the old saying uttered by Nerissa after the prince's departure. How does the servant describe the young suitor who comes after the departure of the prince?
Ans. After Prince's departure, Nerissa utters an old saying "Hanging and wiving goes by destiny." It means that a person's marriage and death depends on their fate.
Extract 5.
Q 1. Where does this scene take place? Who has alighted at the gate?
Ans. This scene takes place in a room in Portia's house at Belmont. Gratiano has alighted at the gate.
Q 2. The visitor brought gifts of rich value. What does this indicate in the context of the scene?
Ans. Gifts of rich value indicate the great regard and love Bassanio has for Portia.
Q 3. Give the meaning of the last three lines of the extract.
Ans. In the last three lines of the extract, the servant says that he has not seen so generous an ambassador of love. Even a day in April, the sweetest spring day, coming to give people a a foretaste of bright and bountiful summer, is not comparable to this gorgeous messenger, who rides in advance of his master.
Q 4. What were the reactions of Portia and Nerissa to the announcement of a new suitor?
Ans. Portia tells the servant to stop speaking, as she was afraid that the suitor was related to the servant, as the servant was praising the suitor. Then Portia tells Nerissa to come with her. to meet the suitor. Nerissa prays to God that the suitor be Bassanio.
Q 5. Why does Portia say to the servant to be silent and not to praise the young Venetian further? Explain how the plot makes progress in this scene.
Ans. Portia tells the servant to be silent because he is praising the new suitor greatly. She fears that the new suitor was a relative of the servant.
The plot makes further progress in this scene. This scene is important because it fills the interval of three months between the signing of the bond and its forfeiture. This scene also reveals the right casket to audience.